LATEST NEWS

We're currently in Savannah, GA helping CC Savannah build out their new church building. We've rebuilt 2 churches that were destroyed by disasters and we've helped with several other church projects, not necessarily disaster related, throughout the years since Calvary Relief started and we're excited to be part of this project! We'll be running this just like we do all of our deployments so contact us if you're wanting to join us!

We're also going to be doing much needed maintenance/repair on our vehicles and tools. It's been several years since we've taken any time to go through everything, and now that our fleet has grown to 2 pickups, 1 van, 2 travel trailers, a tool trailer, and numerous tools, with just the 2 of us, we've got a lot of work to do!

To read our 2018 Review, please click here. To stay up to date with what we're doing, please see our Facebook account and/or our newsletters, links above. Please pray that wherever we are and whatever we do, we'd be diligent as we share the love of Jesus with those around us in a tangible way. We're always looking for willing folks to serve alongside of us. If you're interested in learning more about joining us, click here. There is also a volunteer availability calendar on that page. If you're interested in financially supporting Calvary Relief, click here. Please remember to keep us in your prayers and especially that we'd grow in our relationship with The LORD and draw others to Him in all we say and do! Curt & Mary Jo

Who We Are

Mary Jo and I are missionaries. Our mission field is areas that have been hit by a disaster. We respond to disasters worldwide and are connected to and work with several fellowships, ministries, and individuals around the country who do the same.

Whenever a disaster strikes, we immediately begin praying to see how the Lord is directing us to get involved. Sometimes our role is just to pray, and other times it is to respond and all points in between.

When led by the Lord, we go in and work with local fellowships/churches and others in the area to help with the relief/recovery efforts. We offer experience in this type of endeavor so that the local church body can be free to continue doing what they normally do, as well as to be able to deal with their own disaster-related issues. This also allows the local body to Spiritually minister to those affected by the disaster as the relief work takes place.

While in the field we begin to form relationships with the local people. Some of them are residents that have been affected by the storm and some are locals who just want to volunteer but don't know how, when, where, etc. We also begin to form a relationship with the local church body that teaches the Word of God. As we spend more and more time in one area we make many friends and we can better help point them in the direction of a local church that can help disciple them. Once we leave, the local church body is responsible for the follow-up ministry/discipleship--this is the remnant that God uses once the door is opened to new ministry.

Anyone who wishes to join the work teams is more than welcome! We love working alongside local volunteers. We just want to be Jesus's hands and feet and share His love with others in order to bring more people into His kingdom!

We are ready to roll with a truck and trailer loaded with tools and supplies that are commonly needed in disaster relief/recovery. We can typically tool and employ about 50 volunteers a day. We often bring along specifically requested items for the communities we will be serving.

By the way, as missionaries, we come in as volunteers and expect nothing in return from you or anyone that we help. We have been trained in Biblical Crisis Counseling. We also work with our county and city government to help with many other aspects of disaster preparedness. Feel free to contact us with any and all questions concerning how you can be involved with us as we follow the Lord and His will for our lives! If you're interested in joining us, see the Join Us page by clicking here.

We are not funded by any particular church, organization, government or individual. We rely on The Lord as He uses people, churches and organizations to allow us to serve Him full time in the field. For more info on how you, your church or organization can support us one-time or on a monthly basis, click here.

What God Has Done

The hurricane season of 2004 bombarded Florida with several storms beginning with Charley. We prepared for Charley to hit our area, but it just missed us. We then started to help those who had not been so blessed. We spent the next few months rebuilding after Charley, as well as preparing for, taking down from, and/or cleaning up from several other storms that came our way. It seemed that God was working in our hearts to start a relief ministry.

The next season came, and once again the Lord led us to help those who had been affected by storms. The following year was a quiet one, but nonetheless we were prepared. Then, early in 2007, tornadoes struck Central Florida, and the Lord sent us, along with our supplies, into battle.

About the same time that the tornadoes hit, Curt lost his job. This came as a bit of a shock since we were sure that God had directed him to take this job a year before. We did not know what God was going to do with our lives, but it turned out that He was preparing us to become more involved in disaster relief. God then enabled us to start our own business, which gave us freedom to lead the ministry full-time, while still meeting all of our perdonal finacial obligations. God is good and we were able to pay off all of our outstanding bills except our mortgage and normal everyday bills!

In 2011 Mary Jo quit her job and we began staying in the field longer. In 2013 we realized that we could no longer operate our business in a Godly way while being in the field for long periods of time so we closed the doors and are relying totally on God to meet all of our financial needs. We are currently praying about what we should do with our home in Sarasota.
What God Is Doing

As we began moving forward in the relief ministry, the Lord started opening up more and more doors to serve and to connect with others who have the same heart. We joined up with several different ministries, churches, and individuals who are also called to relief.

We have begun to build a network of relief teams. We will use the different talents, abilities, and resources to better prepare ourselves, and then use this network to respond when disaster strikes.

When a disaster hits we've been immediately contacting local authorities and churches to see what their needs are. We have then gotten the word out to our growing network.

We have been called to respond to several different disasters worldwide in the short time since God placed us in this ministry full time. We have been blessed beyond measure as we have heeded the call of God on our lives.

Our (God's) Vision

Our vision is to bring other individuals, churches, and ministries together, regardless of denomination; to share the love of Jesus with others worldwide.

We will continue to work with different ministries, churches, and individuals in what has turned out to be worldwide disaster relief. We are seeking others with the same calling who want to join with us. Our desire is to work with those who can teach as well as those who are willing to be taught.

Our Mission

As we go into an area that has been affected by a disaster we immediately survey what needs to be done. By definition, we are first responders. We are interested in helping people begin the recovery process both physically and Spiritually. We basically giving them a huge push in the right direction when they feel as if there is nothing that can be done! We tend to go places that are off the beaten path and not where everyone else is going. We try to help as many people as we can, as quickly as we can, though we never concern ourselves with numbers. We are interested in getting everyone started and at the same point in the process, which typically means, no rebuilds, remodels, etc. However, as we spend more time in the field from time to time we do get involved in the rebuilding, especially with local churches damaged from the storms.

Most importantly, we want to take the time to listen to and talk to those affected by the storm as the Lord opens the doors to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, our desire begins with building relationships with people. We seek out local Bible teaching churches in the area and then join our new friends with these churches so that the seeds that The Lord allows us to plant are properly watered and can grow as God brings in the harvest!

What God Has Next

God has given us many warnings in His Word about what we are to expect in the end times. He has called us, as Christians, to be prepared in season and out of season. If we don't heed the call He has given us, we will be held responsible when He calls our lives into account!

Please pray for us to continue to follow God's lead, to have the faith and courage to walk through all the doors that He opens, and to rely on His wisdom and strength. Pray for your church and the church body to get involved in this ministry.

If God puts it in your heart to start a relief ministry in your church or community, or just to get involved yourself, please contact us to further discuss this work. Just stepping out in faith yourself could spark a ministry that God can use to reach a hurting world.<

A Personal Note

We are always interested in learning more so we welcome any suggestions. We are also interested in helping you get involved in disaster relief or helping you set up your own relief ministry. We are available to speak to your church, small group, or to groups specifically interested in disaster relief. We can facilitate an interest meeting, a discussion and Curt can even teach a Bible study in a small group setting or from a pulpit. We can also speak to your congregation with a little about our ministry and then have an open house after the service, whatever you need! If you are interested in hearing more about what we do, please contact us by clicking here. Above all else, please keep us in your prayers as we continue to seek God and His direction for our lives.